Real talk
WHERE TO TURN
WHEN YOU'RE
That time
of the month
again?
IN
ÎN PAIN
When you're living with pain, having the right support is
half the challenge. It's important to know your options, and
understand help is out there... maybe even a few clicks
away.
That's why painaustralia created the National Pain Services
Directory - a free platform where any Australian in need
can enter their postcode to find specialised pain treatments
or service providers located locally. It's easy to use, free to
access and could make all the difference to how you are
managing pain.
Ladies, let's talk about period pain. Many of us
know it's nearing that time of the month, thanks to
the telltale PMS symptoms (back ache, bloating
and mood swings*) that come on in the leadup.
Then there's period pain itself, which happens when
chemicals called 'prostaglandins' trigger the walls of
the uterus to contract and tighten (aka 'cramping'),
and shed its lining. Severity and symptoms vary
for each woman, but I'm sure most of us will agree
period pain is uncomfortable and disruptive. For
some, it's crippling.
Find out more or search local pain
providers at www.painaustralia.org.au/
pain-directory
It might feel like an embarrassing topic to talk
about, but your pharmacist is here to help! We can
recommend a range of effective pain relief and
pharmacy products, as well as at-home suggestions
to help manage symptoms and make that time of
the month just a little easier.
painaustralia
tips
Here's what I find most effective in managing
period pain:
OTC pain relief medication such as paracetamol,
or anti-inflammatory pain relief medicine such
as ibuprofen or naproxen which can help reduce
period pain by inhibiting prostaglandins
Hot water bottle or heat pack applied to the
area of discomfort
FOR
COPING WITH
MIGRAINES
A warm bath or shower
Wear loose-fitting clothing
Self-care. Find time for relaxing or enjoyable
activities to help elevate your mood (e.g. read a
book, bake, watch a movie, take a bubble bath,
or light a candle, or meditate)
Gentle exercise such as yoga, swimming or
walking. Exercise is also thought to release
endorphins (feel-good hormones)^, which can be
a great pick-me-up and adds to the self-care you
should be finding time for
Experienced by almost 5 million Australians each year, migraines are
headaches that typically last anywhere from 4-72 hours and can cause nausea,
vomiting, blurred vision and sensitivity to light or sound. With severity of
symptoms varying from person to person, migraines are not just painful and
distressing, but can be downright disabling. If you experience migraines,
there's a few things our pharmacists recommend:
Period pain is a universally accepted part of
womanhood, but there are lots of ways to help make
it easier to deal with. At TerryWhite Chemmart, we
are here to support you during your period (and
every other day and week in the month) with expert
advice and a range of products to help in managing
your pain, so you can get back to seizing the day.
Ask one of our friendly pharmacists what may work
for you. More information at
www.terrywhitechemmart.com.au/pain
Rest: Lie down in a quiet, calm, darkened room and avoid any activity
V Compress: Apply a hot or cold compress to your head and neck. Heat
packs can help relax muscles, while ice packs may dull the pain
Medicine: OTC (over-the-counter) anti-nausea medication or pain
relief such as ibuprofen, aspirin or paracetamol may help reduce the
severity of symptoms. Speak with your pharmacist or GP about what
medicine may be right tor you.
Kellie Powell
Pharmacist
Water: Keep up the fluids with plenty of water
TerryWhite Chemmart
Chester Pass WA
Diary: Keep a headache diary to help identify patterns and avoid
triggers that lead to migraines
Source *: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/ConditionsAnd Treatments/
premenstrual-syndrome-pms ^: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/period-pain
#: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK279323/
AA: https://www.healthline.com/health/depression/exercise
>>:https://headacheaustralia.org.au/what-is-headache/prevalence-and-cost-of-headache
